Sam Houston State cornerbacks DeAntrey Loche (13) and Bookie Sneed (17) celebrate during Saturday’s FCS playoff game against Southern Utah at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Sneed is a Conroe High School graduate. To view or purchase this photo and others like it, visit HCNpics.com. less

Sam Houston State cornerbacks DeAntrey Loche (13) and Bookie Sneed (17) celebrate during Saturday’s FCS playoff game against Southern Utah at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Sneed is a Conroe High School graduate. ... more

Photo: Staff Photo By Ana Ramirez

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Sam Houston State tight end Shane Young hauls in a pass while being hit by Southern Utah strongside linebacker Chad Hansen during Saturday’s FCS playoff game in Huntsville. Bearkats quarterback Brian Bell scored two plays later to give SHSU a 20-10 lead late in the second quarter. To view or purchase this photo and others like it, visit HCNpics.com. less

Sam Houston State tight end Shane Young hauls in a pass while being hit by Southern Utah strongside linebacker Chad Hansen during Saturday’s FCS playoff game in Huntsville. Bearkats quarterback Brian Bell ... more

Photo: Staff Photo By Ana Ramirez

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Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders runs with the ball during Saturday’s FCS playoff game against Southern Utah in Huntsville. Go to HCNPics.com to view and purchase this photo, and others like it.

Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders runs with the ball during Saturday’s FCS playoff game against Southern Utah in Huntsville. Go to HCNPics.com to view and purchase this photo, and others like it.

Photo: Staff Photo By Ana Ramirez

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Sam Houston State thumps Southern Utah, advances in playoffs

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HUNTSVILLE — With temperatures hovering in the mid-60s with a slight cool wind, conditions were perfect for football Saturday afternoon in Sam Houston State University’s FCS playoff opener at Bowers Stadium.

After a slight hiccup to start the game, which saw the Bearkats eyeing a 10-0 deficit, things went perfect for most of the rest of the way, with SHSU breezing to a 51-20 victory over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and earning the program’s 22nd consecutive home-field victory.

“We were able to run the ball effectively,” SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said. “I thought our running backs ran physical today. I thought our offensive line created some movement. When you do that, it enables you to also have an effective throwing game.”

The win also earned Sam Houston State the chance to exact some revenge on Southland Conference foe Southeastern Louisiana, which beat the Bearkats 34-21 two weeks ago to earn the league crown and force SHSU to have to scramble to even make the playoffs for a third straight season. The Bearkats will travel to Hammond, La., later this week to face the Lions in a Round of 16 matchup, with the winner earning a spot in the national quarterfinals.

SHSU got a Thanksgiving helping and then some from standout running back Timothy Flanders, who gashed the Thunderbirds for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Flanders, nursing a few nagging injuries for the past few months, had not eclipsed the 100-yard mark since the Bearkats’ signature win of the season Sept. 28 against then No. 2 ranked Eastern Washington (32 carries, 280 yards, 2 TDs in a 49-34 victory).

“The way I look at the playoffs, it’s just one-game seasons,” Flanders said. “We just got done playing our first season. Now we’re going to Southeastern, season No. 2. Win or go home again.”

There were more offensive heroes for Sam Houston, with quarterback Brian Bell, who also has been dealing with an injury, completing 15 of 21 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line paved the way for an impressive 531-yard performance by the Bearkats.

Mouf Adebo and Andrew Weaver harrassed Thunderbird quarterback Aaron Cantu, resulting in a sack apiece, helping hold the signal-caller to just one touchdown pass despite 289 passing yards on 31 of 48 attempts. The defense held tight for SHSU, holding Southern Utah to just 47 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Bearkat cornerback Bookie Sneed, a Conroe High School graduate, finished the game with four tackles.

After Colton Cook booted a 42-yard field goal at the 5:19 mark of the first quarter to give Southern Utah the lead, the Thunderbirds followed that with a 38-yard TD pass from Cantu to Anthony Norris for a 10-0 edge with 3:36 left in the opening frame.

Last week SHSU had a slow start against Central Arkansas, falling behind 42-10 at the half. This time around the Bearkats showed some grit, scoring 23 straight to end the half with a 23-10 advantage.

The Bearkats started their comeback with a 32-yard scoring strike from Bell to Chance Nelson with 1:31 left in the first quarter. Sam Houston would add a 3-yard run by Keshawn Hill and a one-yard burst by Bell, along with a Luc Swimberghe 24-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The kick was preceded by what looked like a TD connection from Bell to Shyon Motlagh in the back right corner of the end zone. The play was called out of bounds, then ruled the same after a review.

Ragan Henderson’s 8-yard catch from Bell put SHSU up 30-10 at the 8:38 mark of the third quarter. Southern Utah would then show some life, getting a 38-yard field goal from Cook and a Robert Torgerson 39-yard fumble recovery for a score to cut it to 30-20 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

However, just when it looked a possible comeback was in order, SHSU buried the Birds with a trio of touchdowns, with 2- and 1-yard TD runs by Flanders, followed by a Hill 2-yard run — all in the fourth quarter — for a 31-point Bearkat victory.